Connor Braun

Connor Braun is a Manager in the Tax & Consulting Service Line. He specializes in tax planning and preparation with an emphasis on the manufacturing, construction, and real estate industries. He is based in the Saginaw office.

Specializations

  • Business and individual tax planning with an emphasis on the manufacturing, construction, and real estate industries.

Professional Certifications and Education

  • Certified Public Accountant
  • Central Michigan University – Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, accounting

Professional Membership

  • Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants
  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

Daniel Gruzd II is a Manager based in the firm’s Saginaw office. He specializes in tax planning and business consulting with an emphasis on the manufacturing, construction, and retail industries.

Specializations

  • Business consulting
  • Reviewed financial statements
  • GAAP basis financial statements
  • Business and individual tax planning
  • Experience in the following industries – manufacturing, construction, and retail

Professional Certifications and Education

  • Certified Public Accountant
  • Northwood University, Master of Business Administration in Accounting
  • Saginaw Valley State University, Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting
  • Dale Carnegie graduate

Professional Membership

  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
  • Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants

Publications/Seminars

  • Understanding the Impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill – presented at Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce’s small business development program, November 2025
  • Understanding the Impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill – presented at Midland Business Alliance’s Issues and Answers, November 2025

Nicholas McFadden is a Manager based in the firm’s Ann Arbor office. He specializes in tax planning and business consulting. He has experience serving organizations in a wide range of industries, including construction, retail, manufacturing, transportation, real estate, and professional services.

Specializations

  • Strategic tax planning and compliance for businesses
  • Multi-state taxation
  • Corporate restructuring

Professional Certifications and Education

  • Certified Public Accountant
  • Eastern Michigan University, Bachelor of Science in Political Science
  • Eastern Michigan University, Master of Science in Taxation

Professional membership

  • Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants
  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

Jim is a Principal in the Troy office. He joined Yeo & Yeo on July 1, 2024, with the merger of Berger, Ghersi & LaDuke PLC, serving as a Principal. Jim has over 40 years of deep financial expertise working in both public accounting and private company. He serves a variety of industries, including specialization in real estate, construction, manufacturing, medical, nonprofit, and technology.

Specializations

  • Accounting, tax and financial preparation for businesses and individuals
  • Business advisory, planning and forecasting
  • Risk management
  • Estate and trust taxes

Professional Certifications and Education

  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
  • Oakland University, Bachelors in Accounting
  • Walsh College, Master of Science in Taxation

Professional Membership

  • American Institute of CPAs
  • Michigan Association of CPAs
  • Employee Benefit Plan Audit Quality Center

Zaher Basha is a Principal in the Troy office. He is a member of the firm’s Valuation, Forensics and Litigation Support Group and the Healthcare Services Group. Zaher joined Yeo & Yeo in 2014 and has ten years of public accounting experience.

Specializations

  • Tax planning and preparation
  • Business advisory services
  • Mergers and acquisitions
  • Business valuation
  • Special emphasis on the healthcare industry

Professional Certifications and Education

  • Certified Public Accountant
  • Certified Merger & Acquisition Advisor
  • Walsh College, Master of Business Administration
  • Indiana University – Bachelor of Business Administration

Professional Membership

  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
  • Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants
  • Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants’ Healthcare Task Force
  • Alliance of Merger & Acquisition Advisors (AM&AA)
  • Auburn Hills Chamber of Commerce
  • Troy Chamber of Commerce

Publications/Seminars

Community Involvement

  • Syrian American Rescue Network, treasurer
  • The Syria Institute, volunteer
  • Making Strides Against Cancer walks

Awards

  • Auburn Hills Chamber of Commerce – Tomorrow’s 20 Award, May 2025
  • Spirit of Yeo Award (2019) – recognizing one individual each year who exemplifies the attributes of the firm’s mission and core values

James Edwards III is a Senior Manager in the Ann Arbor office. He co-leads the firm’s Client Accounting Software Team and is a member of the Manufacturing Services Group. James joined Yeo & Yeo in 2011.

Specializations

  • Tax planning and preparation for individuals and businesses
  • Business advisory services with an emphasis on the manufacturing sector and for-profit entities
  • Managerial accounting solutions

Professional Certifications and Education

  • Certified Public Accountant
  • QuickBooks Certified ProAdvisor – Desktop
  • QuickBooks Certified ProAdvisor – Online
  • Grand Valley State University, Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting
  • Grand Valley State University, Master of Science in Accounting

Professional Membership

  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
  • Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants

Publications/Seminars

Community Involvement

  • Ann Arbor Track Club, treasurer
  • Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation Network of Professional Advisors
  • LEA Global Volunteer Week
  • Leadership A2Y graduate, 2021

Chris Sheridan is a Principal and serves in the Consulting & Tax Service Line. He is a member of the Business Valuation and Litigation Support Services Group and the Manufacturing Services Group. He joined the firm in 2012.

Specializations

  • Business valuation and litigation support services for privately owned businesses
  • Business consulting for financial reporting and tax issues with a strong focus on manufacturers
  • Managerial consulting, including designing and implementing accounting systems and internal controls
  • Consulting related to new business start-ups, corporate restructuring and succession planning
  • Fraud investigation and prevention

Professional Certifications and Education

  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
  • Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA)
  • Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)
  • Central Michigan University, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
  • Central Michigan University, Master of Business Administration
  • Emerging Leaders Academy graduate, 2025

Professional Memberships

  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
  • National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts
  • Mid-Michigan Manufacturers Association (M3A)
  • Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants
  • MICPA – Manufacturing Task Force
  • Michigan Manufacturers Association
  • Bay County Chamber of Commerce
  • Energize Bay Area Young Professionals Network
  • Saginaw Valley Young Professionals Network

Publications/Seminars

Community Involvement

  • Stevens Center for Family Business, Executive Council Member (July 2023 – June 2025)
  • Montessori Children’s House of Bay City, Board Member
  • Great Lakes Bay Economic Club, Board Member
  • Bay Future, past Board Member
  • United Way

Awards

  • National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts / CTI “40 Under Forty” honoree, 2021

Fred Miller is the Vice President of Yeo & Yeo Technology. He started his career with Yeo & Yeo in 1995 and has held several roles in the organization. Fred currently manages a diverse team of software consultants and application developers that specialize in providing unique solutions to address our clients’ business needs. He also works with clients as their Account Executive to strategize the best ways to protect and grow their businesses with technology. 

Specializations

  • Implementing manufacturing and distribution ERP systems
  • Payroll and Human Resource Information Systems
  • Business needs assessment and ERP solution architecture
  • Custom application and report development
  • Database design and administration
  • Programming languages: COBOL, VB.net, Visual Basic, VBA
  • Database platforms: Microsoft SQL Server, Pervasive Software
  • Part of the YeoBoard & YeoView development team

Professional Certifications and Education

  • Saginaw Valley State University, Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems
  • Saginaw Valley State University, Master of Science in Technological Processing
  • Sage 100 Certified Payroll Consultant
  • Sage 100 Certified Application Consultant
  • Sage HRMS Certified Technical Consultant
  • Sage HRMS Certified HR and ESS Implementation Consultant
  • Sage HRMS Certified Payroll Implementation Consultant

Publications/Seminars

Community Involvement

  • Midland Boy Scouts of America, volunteer
  • Saginaw Valley State University, Industry Advisory Board for the Computer Science Department
  • Bay Arenac ISD Career Center – Emerging Technologies Advisory Board

Tara Stensrud is a Principal in the Midland office. She joined Yeo & Yeo in 2006. She is a member of the firm’s Manufacturing Services Group and the Consulting Services Group.

Specializations

  • Business consulting, financial reporting and tax issues, with a strong emphasis on the manufacturing and agriculture sectors.
  • Tax planning and preparation services for individuals and small and midsize businesses
  • Preparation and analysis of financial statements
  • Employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) administration assistance
  • QuickBooks consulting
  • Social Security benefit claiming strategies

Professional Certifications and Education

  • Investment Advisor Representative
  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
  • Advanced Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor
  • National Social Security Advisor (NSSA®)
  • Personal Financial Specialist (PFS)
  • Central Michigan University, Bachelor of Business Administration
  • Upstream Academy – Emerging Leaders Academy graduate

Professional Membership

  • Michigan Manufacturers Association
  • Central Michigan Manufacturers Association
  • Michigan Association of CPAs 
  • American Institute of CPAs

Publications/Seminars

Community Involvement

  • Midland Noon Rotary
  • Shelterhouse – board member
  • Leadership Gratiot alumni
  • Alma Action Association – former treasurer
  • Gratiot Area Chamber – former Ambassador
  • Alma Woman’s Club – former member
  • Alma-St. Louis Rotary – former member

Awards

  • Avantax Planning Partners℠ Client Advocate Award (2023)

Disclaimer

Investment advisory services are offered through Avantax Planning PartnersSM. Commission-based securities products are offered through Avantax Investment ServicesSM, Member FINRA, SIPC. Insurance services offered through licensed agents of Avantax Planning Partners. 3200 Olympus Blvd., Suite 100, Dallas, TX 75019. The Avantax entities are independent of and unrelated to Yeo & Yeo Wealth Management. Although Avantax does not provide or supervise tax or accounting services, our Financial Professionals may offer these services through their independent outside business. Not all Financial Professionals are licensed to offer all products or services. Financial planning and investment advisory services require separate licenses.

Jeff is the President of Yeo & Yeo Technology. He started at Yeo & Yeo in 1996 as a software specialist and has held several management positions since. He has over 30 years of experience in business development, product management and business operations within high technology companies.

Jeff has helped to expand Technology to a team of more than 30 professionals. He has also been instrumental in advancing technology within the firm and for the clients that Technology supports.

Specializations

  • IT solutions for manufacturing, financial services, professional corporations and small businesses
  • Help businesses streamline their technology infrastructure to reduce overall technology expenditures and increase efficiencies
  • Technology assessments/consulting and annual IT budgeting
  • Software/hardware consulting and procurement
  • Sage 100 and Sage HRMS

Professional Certifications and Education

  • Central Michigan University, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Finance and minors in Business Administration and Management

Professional Membership

  • Ingram Micro TrustxAlliance – former secretary, Vice President, and President

Publications/Seminars

  • Article: 10 Ways to Reduce IT Expenses (The Leading Edge client newsletter, Spring 2010)
  • Article: Identity Theft – Lock the Company Doors to Client, Employee Information (Contributor, The Leading Edge client newsletter, Spring 2005)
  • Article: Technology Pacesetters (Accounting Today, 2002)
  • Article: 3-2-1 Backup: The Golden Rule for Disaster Recovery published in the firm’s industry eNewsletters, August 2018
  • Presentation: Internet Security & Fraud Prevention
  • Presentation: What You Need to Know About Internet Security
  • Presentation: Is Your Data Secure?
  • Presentation: Sales Management Challenges
  • Presentation: Virtualization, IT Backup and Disaster Recovery and Hosted Services
  • Podcast: Protecting Your Information During Tax Season and Beyond, February 2020
  • Internal Training Podcast: Yeo & Yeo Technology Opportunities
  • Presentation: Defending Your Small/Midsized Business from Cyber Attacks: Cybersecurity Insights & Best Practices, 2022 and 2023 Central Michigan University Cybersecurity Awareness Month Conference
  • Presentation: Cybersecurity panelist, November 2022 Wake Up Midland Talk Show

Community Involvement

  • Central Michigan University Cybersecurity Advisory Board, Member
  • Saginaw Career Complex Cybersecurity Program, Advisory Committee Chairperson
  • Delta College Advisory Information Technology Committee, Co-Chair
  • Saginaw READ Association, past Board Chair, current Board Member, Finance Committee Chair, and Volunteer
  • Saginaw Career Complex, Volunteer

Awards

  • 2010 recipient of the firm’s prestigious Thomas J. Thompson Achievement Award

Jacob Sopczynski is a Principal and leader of the firm’s Manufacturing Services Group. Jacob serves many clients as a consultant and specialist in the application of data extraction techniques, tax planning and assurance services. He joined Yeo & Yeo in 2005 and serves on the firm’s board of directors.

Specializations

  • Manufacturing, Construction, Distribution
  • Audits of local governmental units, school districts and nonprofit organizations
  • Government Auditing Standards
  • Audits of Federal Awards
  • Data extraction uses and techniques
  • Information management and technology assurance
  • Tax planning for business and personal

Professional Certifications and Education

  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
  • Saginaw Valley State University, Bachelor of Professional Accountancy

Professional Membership

  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
  • Michigan Institute of Certified Public Accountants
  • Michigan Association of CPAs Manufacturing Task Force
  • Michigan Manufacturers Association
  • Great Lakes Bay Manufacturers Association
  • Government Finance Officers Association
  • Automation Alley – Finance Committee

Publications/Seminars

Community Involvement

  • Board of Trustees for the International Academy of Flint
  • Gen Forward
  • Treasurer of Pinconning Plays, Inc.
  • The Hundred Club of Genesee, Shiawassee and Lapeer Counties
  • Leadership Bay County Alumni
  • 1,000 Leaders Initiative